What we love…

easy set up and ready to use within moments versus stringing lights and then having to stand in the snow to take them down

What we’d love to see…

ability for the laser light to remember the previous settings

Summary

Easy to use laser light that makes setting up holiday lights a snap both inside and out! No more wading in the snow banks!

Our Rating

Living in New England means that setting up holiday lights and decorations can either be a freezing cold activity or it might be one you try to hurry through to get it done and hope it doesn’t snow too much!

1byone offers an outdoor laser Christmas light that includes a remote, you can can set up the holiday decorations in one moment without having to worry about frozen fingers or the fact that you might stand in several feet of snow to take them down at the end of December. Inside the books is a laser light whcih includes (red, green and an alternating red/green) laser light, as well as a bracket to place it in the ground and a power adapter. You stick the spike inside the ground after attaching it to the laser light connect the power and in less than five minutes the laser light show is ready to go. The best part – in my opinion is that you can also control it from inside and use a timer to make it automatically come on and turn off as well as change the colors with just a touch of the remote.

I really liked how quick and easy it was to set up outside and put into my lawn. I also liked that it was controlled via remote control and that I could use a grounded electrical cord to provide power to the laser light. I will say that I have installed and taken it out a few times when I knew it was going to rain (even though I didn’t have to) just because I wanted to test out all the different settings. The projector is waterproof and can be used both inside and outside – so perhaps you could have Christmas in July if you wished! I also liked that it doesn’t use too much electricity. I also really liked the automatic function which meant that the unit would automatically turn off in bright light/sunshine or turn on in the dark.

In terms of enhancements, I wish there was a short memory that allowed the unit to remember what you did if you have to unplug it. Currently, if you unplug it you have to start over again in the programming process.

Overall, I am looking forward to setting this up outside my house around Thanksgiving during the holiday season to have holiday lights on. It will be fast and easy to set up and since I’ve already tested it out quite a bit it won’t be bad to get the settings right and the holiday mood fast. Perfect for the busy family or someone who might live in a climate where the weather isn’t always predictable!

Alison, the American iMum is from Massachusetts. She lives there with her sons and husband. In their spare time, they enjoy playing outside, enjoying nature and of course testing apps and fantastic products on their devices. They have a variety of devices including an iPad, iPhone, and an iPod and is often found with a device! My older son loves technology and loves testing out the “latest and newest” apps and tech. I love sharing information about apps and products with others to help them make decisions without feeling overwhelmed with all of the choices.

What we love…

easy to use accurate way to keep track of your kids height over time including via a companion app

What we’d love to see…

Video’s to demonstrate usage and integration with Push app

Summary

Great device to help you keep track of your kids growth over time and I liked how I could compare my son’s height to my other son once I had entered all of the data into the app. I was able to track roughly how tall they were at the same ages – although we didn’t use the exact same measuring tool.

Our Rating

Push is a handheld stadiometer which measures height using ultrasound via the push of a button. The stadiomer and companion app will register and manage the heights of up to 20 people and plots measurements on a CDC growth chart. The device is shaped in a triangular shape and is easily held in one hand allowing you to measure your child – or anyone else in a simple easy to manage one hand format. You can use it to track your children’s growth over time as an alternative to the “pencil marking on the wall” or traditional growth charts that you may otherwise have to mount on the wall. To use, you simply have your child stand on a hard surface like a hardwood floor (carpet does not work well) with their feet against the wall, you push a button with one finger and the measurement is done in mere seconds. Push uses ambient temperature and humidity to ensure the measurement is correct, otherwise it will deliver an error message. I tried using it both the “recommended” as well as “non recommended” ways and found Push’s accuracy was best on a solid surface floor versus carpet. Push will measure heights from 1′ 8″ – 6′ 7″ / 50 – 200 cm. Of note, heights can vary by up to .2″ depending on the posture of your child when measuring. When you add your child to the Push app, you can enter if they are male/female as well as a photo. This helps to ensure your child is tracked on the correct growth chart.

As a mom, I like to know the statistics of my kids. I weigh them monthly and have always had trouble keeping track of their heights. I used to use a wall-mounted chart but found that it differed significantly from measuring devices used by my kid’s doctors – which even include drawing lines on the paper for babies who can not yet stand and measuring using a measuring tape. I have even found that their heights can vary depending on where they are measured, if they have their feet properly against the wall or even how cooperative they are on a specific day! For me, knowing their height is important for a variety of reasons including height in a car seat, knowledge of where they fit on a growth curve and just to see how they are growing over time. I love how easy Push is to use. I loved how easy Push was to use. The measurements were accurate and they were displayed both on the Push device as well as loaded into the Push app on my iPhone. I also liked that Push will display results over time and show how my child compares to others on the growth chart. I also liked that I could go back and put in historical measurements for my kid’s heights which meant I could track them over time – this is a manual addition via the Push app where you input measured data.

In terms of enhancements, I wish that the instructions for Push were a little clearer. The device itself is easy to use, however, a video demonstration or even more specific instructions might be helpful to brand new users. Once you use Push a few times, it’s very intuitive so a video or some sort of demonstration might be helpful just for brand new users. It would also be helpful to have more direct instructions on how to enter data into the Push app – I figured it out via trial and error, but that information might be helpful for first time users.

Overall, this is a great device to help you keep track of your kids growth over time and I liked how I could compare my son’s height to my other son once I had entered all of the data into the app. I was able to track roughly how tall they were at the same ages – although we didn’t use the exact same measuring tool. I look forward to keeping track of my kids measurements over time and seeing how they grow over time.

Alison, the American iMum is from Massachusetts. She lives there with her sons and husband. In their spare time, they enjoy playing outside, enjoying nature and of course testing apps and fantastic products on their devices. They have a variety of devices including an iPad, iPhone, and an iPod and is often found with a device! My older son loves technology and loves testing out the “latest and newest” apps and tech. I love sharing information about apps and products with others to help them make decisions without feeling overwhelmed with all of the choices.

What we love…

ability to use a multisensory approach to learning letters which includes apps and physical letters placed on the playset to form words; included parental dashboard to track your kids progress

What we’d love to see…

ability to customize words in all apps, a mobile friendly version of the Square Panda Playground website

Summary

The Square Panda Phonics Playset is a great demonstration of how you can use your iPad and integrated playset to provide learning both on the screen and using tactile letters to complete a goal – I can’t wait to see what else this company will bring.

Our Rating

The Square Panda Phonics Playset by Square Panda which features a bluetooth enabled playset to engage kids in learning a variety of activities from learning letters, spelling, letter sounds, rhymes, learning new vocabulary words and more. The set consists of 45 Smart Letters, a Playset box which you pair to your iPad and holds your device while in use, access to the Square Panda Playground where you can manage a parent account, see information about your child’s progress and additional learning opportunities as well as 4 AA Batteries. The Square Panda Playset requires either iPad 3, iPad 4, iPad Mini, iPad Air 2 or iPad Pro in order to run and you must be running iOS 8.x and above. The Square Panda Phonics Playset provides a multisensory tactile learning experience which combines content on your iPad with letters and visuals within the app. It includes 14 levels of phonics play as well as an integrated dashboard to track progress.

Setup is quick and easy. First, you set up an account on Square Panda with your email and other information. That gives you access to the parental dashboard. After that you can unpack the Phonics Playset, install the 4 included AA batteries, download the apps and be using them within 10 or less minutes. I spent some time in the Square Panda Playground website because I wanted to check out the features there. There are so many great things! You can add your own custom words including your child’s name – and for me when I last had my son use the playset I included words from his spelling list that week! When you enter custom words they are put into your child’s games and you can even upload a picture to go with them! Words must be between 1-8 characters, so more complex spelling words won’t work here, however, it’s a great way to practice. The Square Panda Playground also lets you choose words for specific types of situations like bathroom and body anatomy as well as even excluding a specific letter if you misplaced it from the playset. You can also block specific types of words if you wish which gives you a great level of customization.

The playset includes 45 smart letters. Vowels are yellow and consonants are yellow to make for easier differentiation between the letter types. These all stored inside the playset case when not in use. You can have up to three players per playset, and the content dynamically changes depending on which user is selected so with my 2 year old we are simply working on even identifying letters while with my 8 year old he is working on spelling words and earning badges. The Square Panda Playset includes access to two apps, and one of the two apps Square Panda Lagoon allows you to use the custom words that you have created. Square Panda Bowling (above) has you bowl with your finger to knock down the pins and spell out words. It combines a multi-sensory approach where you do an activity, get a letter with your finger on your iPad and then properly place it in the try to spell the word. Kids are taught to spell words correctly from left to right which is the way that The National Reading Panel recommends as well as the way that reading is taught in school.

First of all – this is not the plastic letters that I grew up with! Many of us may remember growing up and having the magnetized letters that we used to spell things on our refrigerator. I loved that the app required letters to be correct before allowing you to move on. Letters are placed individually in a white box at the bottom of the playset. The must be positioned correctly and placed on the playset in the correct order. The photo above is from Square Panda Lagoon and includes a photo as well as the word below to reinforce learning.

It isn’t often as a mom that I find a toy that both my 2 year old and 8 year old can use. One of my favorite things about the Square Panda Playset is the level of customization that is included especially with the Square Panda Lagoon. I can see it is a great way to practice “trick words” or words my son might be having challenges with at school and having a great way to keep track of what he is learning in terms of letters. With my 2 year old, we can work on understanding letters and teaching him that my iPad is a learning device. I also liked that we could store the letters inside the playset which meant that they were not misplaced the next time we went to use it. I use a Griffin Survivor case on my iPad Mini because even though it’s “mom’s iPad” my kids use it a lot and I loved that we could leave on the protective case even when it was in use with the Square Panda Playset, this isn’t always the case with other products on the market. I really liked the Square Panda Playground where I could keep track of what my kids were doing with the apps – I knew what my 2 year old was doing because we were playing together but with my older son I usually help him learn how to use something and then let him try and figure it out on his own. I liked seeing the badges of the items he accomplished as well as the ability to add in the custom words for his spelling list that week!

In terms of enhancements, I wish that both of the apps included the ability to use custom words, my son enjoyed rolling the bowling ball in Square Panda Bowling more than the Square Panda Lagoon game – I’m not sure why he preferred it more other than he enjoys bowling, so having the two app options was great. Square Panda is planning to add more apps Letter Lab. I hope that they include the ability to use custom words in this app. I’d also like to see a mobile friendly version of the Square Panda Playground – I don’t often get time to sit down at my computer so I was trying to look at it on my iPad and it wasn’t as user friendly as I would have liked.

The Square Panda Phonics Playset is a great demonstration of how you can use your iPad and integrated playset to provide learning both on the screen and using tactile letters to complete a goal – I can’t wait to see what else this company will bring. The Square Panda Phonics Playset retails for $119 USD and includes a standard one year parts and labor if the letters malfunction or the product itself malfunctions. It can be purchased from Square Panda for $119 USD.

This is not your mom’s letter playset. This is a fun and interactive toy which can be used by younger and older children and can customize and provide data about what your child is learning. It is a true demonstration of what the iPad can do versus other tablets on the market.

Apps

Square Panda Lagoon
by Square Panda Inc

Price: $FREE

A goofy chameleon with a love for dancing introduces children to letter sounds and phonics in a fun, exploratory way where any combination of letters (both nonsense words and real words) create a learning.

Square Panda Bowling
by Square Panda Inc

Price: $FREE

STRIKE! Letters meet their match in a bowling alley on a faraway island! With every roll of the coconut ball, your child learns the relationships between letters, sounds, and words. Compatible with the.

Video demonstration

NOTE: A product was supplied by the company for review purposes, no other form of compensation was received, all opinions stated in the review are those of the author and have been offered honestly.

Giveaway

If you would like to win a Square Panda Phonics playset , please enter via the widget below. Winners will be emailed and must contact The iMums within 48 hours to claim their prize. This giveaway is open to to those with a valid US mailing address, and an iTunes account is required to claim the prize. Please ensure you have read and understand our Terms & Conditions. Good luck!

Alison, the American iMum is from Massachusetts. She lives there with her sons and husband. In their spare time, they enjoy playing outside, enjoying nature and of course testing apps and fantastic products on their devices. They have a variety of devices including an iPad, iPhone, and an iPod and is often found with a device! My older son loves technology and loves testing out the “latest and newest” apps and tech. I love sharing information about apps and products with others to help them make decisions without feeling overwhelmed with all of the choices.

SYDNEY, Australia – 1 September 2016 — Garmin Australia, today announced the Forerunner 35, its newest GPS-enabled running watch with built-in Garmin Elevate wrist-based heart rate1 technology that allows runners to monitor their heart rate 24/7 without a chest strap. The easy-to-use Forerunner 35 tracks essential data like distance, pace and personal records, and thanks to its built-in GPS, runners can track how far, how fast and where they’re running all without worrying about carrying a phone too. In between runs, the stylish Forerunner 35 doubles as an all-day activity tracker1 as it counts steps, calories and intensity minutes, so users can still record progress and activities even when they’re not running. The Forerunner 35 also includes smartwatch functionality including smart notifications2 and music controls2 right from the device.

“It’s easy to take your running to the next level thanks to the Forerunner 35 with Elevate wrist-based heart rate – you just put it on and go,” said Adam Howarth, General Manager, Garmin Australasia. “With a host of built-in features including wrist-based heart rate and smart connectivity, the Forerunner 35 is the perfect tool for runners who want to stay fit, stay connected, and share their progress.”

The Forerunner 35’s updated sleek design features a new high resolution display with amazing contrast, perfect for indoor and outdoor viewing alike. In addition to running, the Forerunner 35 features multiple sport profiles including indoor running, walking, cycling and cardio activities to help users meet their fitness goals on and off the pavement. Stylish and lightweight, it’s comfortable for all day wear and seamlessly transitions from a run to an everyday activity tracker and smartwatch. Its battery life is up to nine days in watch/activity tracking mode, and up to 13 hours in training mode.

With vibration alerts for running prompts, activity tracking milestones, and virtual pacing progress, the Forerunner 35 helps runners stay motivated and easily monitor their progress as they go. Vibration alerts can also be set up for incoming calls, text, emails and calendar events so users can easily stay connected without having to dig a phone out of their purse, pocket or bag. Additional connected features include music controls, automatic uploads and software updates.

Throughout the day, the Forerunner 35 automatically syncs with the Garmin Connect™ Mobile app to save users’ stats to their free account in the Garmin Connect online fitness community. Runners can also use Garmin Connect to share their workouts with friends and family in real time with Live Track2, join fitness challenges, analyse training progress, set and track goals, share activities with other Garmin Connect users and much more.

The Forerunner 35 is expected to be available in September 2016 for a recommended retail price of AU$299, and will be available in four colors: black, limelight, frost blue and white.

The ever-expanding Garmin fitness segment develops technologies to enhance and promote healthy and active lifestyles. Whether users are runners, cyclists, swimmers, multi-sport athletes, or simply looking to stay active throughout the day, there is a product that can help them reach their health and fitness goals.

For decades, Garmin has pioneered new GPS navigation and wireless devices and applications that are designed for people who live an active lifestyle. Garmin serves five primary business units, including automotive, aviation, fitness, marine, and outdoor recreation. For more information, go to www.garmin.com.au or Garmin Facebook at www.facebook.com/GarminAU/

Alison, the American iMum is from Massachusetts. She lives there with her sons and husband. In their spare time, they enjoy playing outside, enjoying nature and of course testing apps and fantastic products on their devices. They have a variety of devices including an iPad, iPhone, and an iPod and is often found with a device! My older son loves technology and loves testing out the “latest and newest” apps and tech. I love sharing information about apps and products with others to help them make decisions without feeling overwhelmed with all of the choices.

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Meet the iMums

The iMums - Amanda, Alison, Mary and Grace - are four mothers from different parts of the world dedicated to informing parents about the best digital stories, educational apps, fun games and technology products available for their children. We also offer the latest news in apps for kids, interesting articles, developer interviews, free apps and regular giveaways! Read more.

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